But not everyone loves the nail-biting habit in real life. Beyond how unsightly the results of gnawing on your nails looks, there are significant health hazards to the practice.
FOUR REASONS TO STOP
First and foremost, the nail-biting habit will expose the nail-biter to a host of germs. Think of everything touched during the course of a day, from toilets to doorknobs, and it will provide a glimpse into the potential germs that can be accumulated under the nails.
Here are some pretty good reasons to stop gnawing.
1. Nail biting is actually a way to ingest all the crud that accumulates under fingernails, which provides a roadmap on where the human owner has been in the recent past. It’s one of the reasons why coroners and police detectives solve cases by closely examining what’s under the fingernails. The collected crud and dirt are twice as dirty as the fingers, and are a perfect spot for bacteria to breed. That can be readily transferred to the mouth and into the body, which is why frequent hand washing is always the hallmark of sanitary practices.
2. For women, nail biting offers another issue – many polishes are toxic and contain chemicals approved only for topical application. By ingesting them, nail biters are feasting on a toxic horde that may interfere with health and fertility.
3. By chewing on the nails instead of trimming them using a sanitary scissor, nail-biters run the risk of damaging the skin around the nail, which can promote infections and encourage germs to spread from the fingers to the mouth.
4. Damage to the teeth and gums – Constantly biting on hard surfaces like nails can chip or damage teeth, and the germs under the nails can contribute to gum disease.
Nail biting is a habit that typically begins in childhood. For some, it extends into adult life.
While the habit is unsanitary and makes the nails unattractive, the good news is that it won’t damage the nails in the long-term.
The technical term for nail biting is onychophagia. A University of Calgary study of the habit estimates that as much as 50 percent of people (including 60 percent of children and 45 percent of teenagers) will chronically bite their nails at some point in life, making it one of the most popular bad habits of human beings.
Nails are formed in what’s called the nail bed, an area that’s just beneath where the cuticles begin. That’s where nail growth begins, and some studies have indicated that faster nail growth can be spurred by chewing on the nails.
But by chewing on the nails instead of trimming them using a sanitary scissor, there is an increased risk of damaging the skin around the nail, which can promote infections; encourage germs to spread from the fingers to the mouth; and hurt the teeth.
WHY WE BITE OFF MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW
People bite their nails primarily out of habit. It’s a psychological phenomenon, like skin picking, and is done in times of stress and out of boredom, usually unconsciously. There are many triggers for nail biting – anxiety, loneliness, frustration – it runs the gamut of psychological conditions. Some research suggests that genetics may play a role in who becomes a nail biter, indicating that it runs in families and may be passed from generation to generation.
There is also a serious psychological condition that may be associated with fingernail biting. The condition is obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to by its initials, OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorders manifest themselves in the need to do something continuously – whether it’s hand washing, checking to make sure the stove isn’t lit before leaving the house, or perhaps checking e-mail.
Those who manifest obsessive-compulsive disorders have been found to be more prone to nail biting, and also seem to present with other psychological disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity, oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety, and bed-wetting. Severe nail biting that causes extensive damage to the nail and skin can be classified as a form of self-mutilation that’s similar to the practice of cutting.
A doctor can diagnose the condition, and may refer the patient to a mental health provider.
The classification of nail-biting as a mental illness is relatively new. Termed “pathological grooming” by medical professionals, the disorder is now listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the bible of the profession. The practice of nail biting is now listed as an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and its certification has elevated the concerns over the practice, particularly when the habit continues into adulthood.
Pathological grooming includes nail biting, hair pulling, and skin picking. While all behaviors stem from normal grooming, they are believed to be initially triggered by stress, but later devolve into an unconscious behavior done out of habit.
NAIL BITING TREATMENTS
Most children will grow out of the nail-biting habit. But for those who continue as teens and adults, there is help available for chronic nail biters who wish to quit. Here are some treatments that many habitual nail biters have found effective.
· Coating the nails – The benefits of bitterness… There is bitter-tasting nail polish available that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. One taste and the biter will think twice about going back for more. This approach is a form of aversion therapy but also an incentive to find another habit.
· Keep nails trimmed – If there’s nothing to bite, many nail chewers move on to something else.
· Manicures – Beautiful nails after an expensive treatment provide an incentive to go bite-free.
· Occupy the hands – Squeeze a ball, play with a pencil, chew some gum – there are hundreds of things that can relieve stress while preserving the nails. Some people keep a rubber band on the wrist and snap it when the urge to chew strikes.
· Do relaxation techniques – Meditation, yoga, deep breathing or just healthy walking can relieve the stress that’s driving the nail-biting habit.
· Wear protection – Gloves and bandages on the tips of the fingers will prevent chewing. Of course, after a couple days of questions on why the gloves are on, the desire to chew will become a secondary annoyance.
· Avoid triggers – If someone can pinpoint the places and times of day when stress rises, employ one of the above alternatives. This is particularly effective with children who may become over stimulated during certain parts of the day.
If these tricks and techniques fail, it may be time to consult a mental health professional for some anti-anxiety medications. The de-stressing medications may take weeks to make a difference, but they will gradually lessen the anxiety that may be driving the nervous habit. Combined with a determination to cease, and perhaps a few alternatives if stress does manifest, this unsightly and toxic habit can be nailed.